An independent monitor overseeing federally ordered changes to the Albuquerque Police Department said Thursday that police are at odds with his team over how to revamp the department's policy on use-of-force — a key part of a reform agreement, reports the Associated Press. Court-appointed monitor James Ginger told a federal judge there's no agreement on a new policy, one of several issues delaying reform. He said officers cannot be trained if a new policy doesn't exist.
“There is no way out of it from my perspective. These things are nonnegotiable,” he said. In a 214-page progress report released Thursday, Ginger said headway has been made, despite “disjointed and disorganized” efforts on some policy reforms. The department, criticized for a “culture of aggression,” has created a policy review board. A U.S. Department of Justice report faulted police there for excessive force, especially in cases involving mentally ill suspects. Albuquerque police also had been scrutinized for more than 40 police shootings since 2010.